Victoria’s Premier Denis Napthine has come under fire for lobbying to allow Robbie Waterhouse, father of high profile bookmaker Tom Waterhouse, to take bets at Warrnambool Racecourse.
Australian gambling state regulator Racing Victoria confirmed that it will stand by its decision not to allow the Tom Waterhouse business (now owned by William Hill) to accept wagers at the upcoming Warrnambool’s May Racing carnival.
Racing Victoria stated that bookmakers who wish to work the event, must have previously worked at other state racing carnivals, thus Robbie Waterhouse does not qualify as a bookmaker for the May carnival.
Premier Napthine has asked the regulator to rethink its decision, claiming that the popular bookmaker would help to raise the events profile and sell tickets. Napthine states that the involvement of Waterhouse in the event would be a positive for the organisers.
However Napthine has been unable to shake controversy surrounding his decision to promote once-disgraced bookmaker Rob Waterhouse, and his involvement in a Liberal Party fund-raiser headlined by his wife Gai Waterhouse at next week’s Warrnambool races.
The Premier has vehemently denied there is a conflict of interest in him supporting Waterhouse to work in the betting ring – he is allowed to work elsewhere at the event – and the fact Gai Waterhouse is the star attraction along with Dr Napthine at a Liberal Party branch fund-raiser next Wednesday night.